Synchronizing clock



Spt. 29, 1931. J. w. BRYCE SYNCHRONIZING CLOCK Filed March 23, 1925 2 Sheefcs-Sheet l J. W. BRYCE Sept. 29, 1931.

SYNCHRONI Z ING CLOCK '2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1925 m ba 6H le 3 vm mv Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAIES W. BRYCE, OF BLOOHFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 INTERNATIONAL 'rmn RECORDING COMPANY OF NEW YORK, OF ENDICOT'I', NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SYNOHBONIZING CLOCK This invention relates to a synchronized .clock system, and more particularly relates to the provision of a simplified means for synchronizing secondary impulse clocks which are controlled by a so-called master clock. w

I have heretofore devised several systems of s nchronizing clocks relatively to a master 0100 and the present invention is directed to the provision of a simplified and modified arrangement of parts to the general end that the structure of the secondary clocks shall include a less number of parts than heretofore provided.

Further and other objects of the present invention will be hereinafter pointed out in the accompanying specification and claims and shown inthe drawings which by way of illustration show one and a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the pertinent parts of a master clock for use in connection with my improved system.

Fig. 2 is a partial view of one of the secondary clocks used in the system.

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the master clock and a plurality of secondary clocks which are to be synchronized thereby.

Fig. 4 shows the position of the alining disk on the hour just before release of the alining pawl.

Fig. 5 shows the position of the alining pawl after the disk has been freed.

M aster clock Preferably, the arrangement of parts is or example, it may P such that the contacts 14 are normally open and are closed for a short interval following regular periods of about one hour duration. It will be obvious, however, that by a proper rearrangement of the associated parts of the system these cam contacts could operate in a reverse manner bein normally closed and opening during the SfiOI't hourly interval.

Also fixed to the minute arbor 10 is a cam 15 which is adapted to control the opening and closing of a contact 16. In the preferred embodiment, contact 16 is arranged to close for a short period and then open just before contacts 14 are closed.

In addition, the master clock is provided with the usual minute impulse contacts 17 which are controlled in the usual way from a minute cam 18 or otherwise as is the custom in clocks of this sort.

For accelerating the advance or forward movement of the secondaries I provide quick acting contacts 19 and preferably operate these contacts by attaching one of them to the, verge mechanism 11. These contacts 19 will close at every swing of the pendulum if a pendulum movement is employed.

Secondary clock The secondary clock shown in Fig. 2 is of conventional form and it includes a minute 80 arbor shaft 20 which makes one revolution per hour. This shaft ispreferably advanced by means of an impulse magnet 21 which acts through the usual ratchet wheel 22 to advance theminute arbor 20 step by step each time the magnet 21 receives an impulse from the master clock. Carried by the minute arbor 20 on each synchronizing clock I rovide an alining disk 23. Cooperating with this disk isan alining pawl 24, a spring pressed finger 25 against which the abutment of the disk is brought into contact when pawl 24 is in its normal position and the secondary clock is fast or on time. This pawl is held in its normal position, Fig. 3, by spring 26, but while contacts 14 are closed magnet 27 is energized in a manner hereinafter described, and finger 25 is raised out of the path of the abutment. The disk is timed with reference to the minute hand of the secondary clock 100 so that when the minute hand indicates the 59th minute, the abutment of the disk will be close against finger 25. So that pawl 24 will not allow finger 25 to drop into the path of the abutment upon its release, there is provided a spring 28 which continually urges finger 25 against the direction of the movement of the disk. When the pawl is raised, the finger will be freed, and when the pawl is released the finger will drop on top of the abutment, as shown in Fig. 5, and not interfere with the rotation of the minute arbor.

Synchronization Synchronization of a number of secondary clocks is achieved in the following manner: Current is obtained from two bus-wires 30 and 31 and the clocks are continually actuated by minute impulses through magnets 21 described above. Current from bus-wire 30 flows through switch 32, line 33, contacts 17, magnet 34, and to bus-wire 31. This current is intermittent due to the periodic closing of contact 17 by cam 18 on the minute arbor of the master clock and therefore contact 35 will be closed and opened at minute intervals. This will allow an intermittent current to flow from bus-wire 30, through feed' line 36, magnets 21, to feed line 37, through contact 35 and into bus-wire 31, thus causing magnets 21 to keep all of the secondary clocks in step with the master clock.

All of the secondary clocks of the system will be actuated in this manner. If any one of the clocks is fast, the minute arbor will be stopped by its pawl 24 until it has been retarded an amount sufiicient to bring it into synchronism with the master clock. The normal position of each pawl 24 is against the periphery of its respective aliner disk as shown in Fig. 3. I

Should any of the clocks be slow they must be stepped ahead at a rapid rate. in order that they be on time on the hour. This is accomplished by causing rapid actuations of magnets 21 just before each hour reading of the hands of the master clock. Cam 15 closes contact 16 preferably after the fifty-ninth minute and allows a branch current to flow from bus-wire 30, through switch 32, line 37, contact 16, line 38, contact 19, magnet 34 and into bus-line 31. Contact 19 closes once every two seconds and causes the intermittent current set up to energize magnet 34 at the same rate. This results in closing contact 35 at the same rate, and another branch of current from bus-wire 30, as in the normal advance of the secondary clock willflow from feed line 36 through magnets 21 into feed line 37 through contact 35 to bus-wire 31, thus producing rapid advance of any slowlytimed seconda clocks. In my preferred embodiment, this period of acceleration of the slow clocks occurs on the tenth second after the fifty-ninth minute and lasts for about thirty seconds, thus allowin for a positive correction of fifteen imp see each hour. This period may be lengthened if desired, but it must terminate prior to the closing of contacts 14 by cams 12 and 13 which are so timed as to close the contacts for a period of twenty ieconds starting at ten seconds before the our.

As before stated, the alining raised while contacts 14 are close and when magnet 40 in line 41 is energized. Energizetion of magnet 40 occurs when contact 35 is closed on the hour impulse. Current then will flow from bus-wire 30, through switch 32, line 33, contacts 14, magnet 40, line 41, and through contact 35 to bus-wire 31. This will energize magnet 40 which will close contact 42 and allow current to flow from feed line 36, into circuit 43, through magnet 27, line 44, through contact 42, line 45, and into bus-wire 31. Since contact 42 is closed on the hour, pawls 24 will be removed from the aths of alining disks 23 and all of the cloc s will continue their movement in synchronism.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the period of coincidence of all of the clocks in t e system described in this embodiment of my invention occurs after the fifty-ninth minute and may last until 20 seconds before the sixtieth minute, allowing for an advance of slow secondary clocks of as much as fifteen minutes and a retardation of fast secondary clocks of a maximum amount of a little less than fifty-nine minutes. It is manifestly obvious that the corrections may be relatively varied according to the timing of the various cams/ It will be understood that if in any case it is required to correct the time of the entire system, as for example, when the mas ter clock is running fast or slow and this correction is to be within the range permitted by the synchronizing period it is only necessary to reset the hands of the master clock to the desired extent. The secondaries will then set themselves withinthe next hour. If the amount is in excess of the synchronizing period for which the system is designed, for example, when a daylight saving correction is required, a manual control is brought into operation as shown in Fig. 3 which will now be described. Referring to the diagram, a wire 39 is provided terminating in a switch point as shown. To retard the secondary clocks the switch 32 is displaced to the open or off osition. This switch is maintained open For the desired retardin period. If it is desired to advance the clocfi, the switch 32 is thrown to connect with the switch point or wire 39. The effect of connecting switch 32 with wire 39 is to cause the fast set-u contacts 19 to come into action and rapidly advance the various secondary clocks. The switch 32 will awl 24 is i be held closed until the secondary clocks advance to the desired extent. For example, to advance all of the clocks one hour with contacts 19 closing every two seconds it will take two minutes to bring about the proper advance of the secondaries.

It will be understood that it is not essential to hold switch 32 closed for the exact period inasmuch as the synchronizing system will function to bring the clocks in time with the master clock whether the said secondary clocks are fast or slow with respect to the master clock. It is only necessary that. they be brought within the range of the synchronizing period.

The above is equally true with regard to retarding operations it being only necessary to open switch 32 for approximately the de,,

sired retarding period.

In Fig. 3, three secondary clocks are lllllS- trated showing their timerelation to the' master clock. Alining cams 23 are viewed from the rear. To avoid confusion the hands are shown as rotating in their normal direction.

As before stated, at the hour all of the secondary clocks behind time will be urged ahead by the rapid series of accelerating impulses, but since clock X is on time it will not be affected for the abutment of its alining disk is already against finger 25. Clock Y will be held in the position illustrated, while clock Z will continue to operate until it is picked up by the accelerating impulses occurring ten seconds after the fifty-ninth minute, and moved aheadunt-il the abutment of its disk 23 is'stopped by finger 25. Following immediately after the cessation of the accelerating impulses, all of the pawls 24 will be raised, and the second ary clocks will then continue to operate in synchronism with the master clock.

Although in Fig. 3 plus and minus symbols are shown at the ends of lines 30 and 31 it will be understood that either alternating or direct current may be used as desired and that the symbols are merely used to indicate a source of supply.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A synchronizing clock system having a master clock and a secondary clock with a circuit intermediate the same, said circuit 'being periodically energized for causing the ad; vance of said secondary clock, in combination with means for sending over said circuit a group of electrical impulses atprotracted intervals, electro-magnetic means under the control of said circuit whereby said secondary clock may be advanced by said periodic energization of said circuit and by said group of electrical impulses, mechanical means in itself biased to a position for regularl stopping the advance of said secondary clock at a given time of said secondary clock even though said electro-magnet is being energized,

said stopping by said mechanical means being effected independently of electrical control from the master clock, and means for removingsaid mechanical means from further stopping the advance of said secondary clock at a definite time.

2. A synchronizing clock system having a secondary clock regularly driven by a series of normal impulses delivered over one circuit, in combination with means for delivering over the same circuit a group of faster than normal impulses at protracted intervals, and electro-magnetic means controlled by said impulses for advancing said secondary clock, means for stopping advancement of said clock while said electro-magnet is receiving impulses, said means including an abutment and contacting finger operating for stopping action wholly mechanically and independently of electrical control from the master clock, the said finger being mechanically biased to stopping position and means for breaking the contacting relation of said abutment and finger following the delivery of the group of faster than normal impulses over said circuit whereby said clock may continue to be driven by said normal impulses.

3. A secondary clock including an operating magnet which ordinarily upon energiza tion effects advance of the clock, in combination with a blocking means controlled and periodically called into action by the secondary clock itself and in accordance with the chronological condition of the clock for obstructing advance of the clock, said blocking means including devices for obstructing the advance of the clock irrespective of operating energization of the operating magnet which if unrestrained would cause advance of the clock, and a remote master clock electrically connected with the secondary clock, the master clock containing impulse sending means adapted to send fast impulses to ad vance the secondary clock to such chronological condition as to bring the blocking means automatically into operation to block further advance of said secondary clock under the continued impulses received by the operating means of the secondary clock from the master clock.

4. In an electrical clock system including a mast-er, clock, a secondary clock, operating means for said secondary clock, a single line circuit electrically connecting said operating means to said master clock, means in the master clock for sending normal and fast impulses all in the same direction over the said single line circuit to the secondary clock operating means for effecting all advances of the secondary clock throughout the entire cycle, in combination with synchronizing means therefor, characterized by the provision of means for sending from the master clock both the normal impulses and the fast impulses over said single common circuit which is always permanently connected electrically with the operating means of the sec ondary clock and means in the secondary clock for stopping further advance of the clock irrespective of the receipt of operating impulses by the operating means, said last men-' v characterized in that the secoridar clock operating means always is connecte to receive all the impulses from the master clock andthat a blocking means is provided in the seccondary clock for restaining advances under said impulses, said blocking means being called into blocking action automatically and wholly mechanically by and in accordance with the chronological condition of the secondary clock for the purpose described.

6. A synchronized clock system including a master clock and a secondary clock having an operating means therein, with provisions in the master clock for sending out to the secondary clocknormal and fast impulses,

and means for effecting synchronization therebetween, comprising in combination, means in the master clock for sending both the normal and fast impulses over a common circuit to the operating means of the secondary clock, means in the secondary clock brought into operation in accordance with the chronological condition of the secondary clock and independently of electrical control from the master clock for blocking the advance of said clock irrespec- J tive of the receipt of rapid or normal impulses by the operating means and means in the master clock for releasing the said blocking means in the secondary clock to permit the clock to again advance under normal impulses after synchronization is effected.

7. A synchronized clock system including a master clock and a secondary clock, with means in the master clock for sending normal and fast impulses to the secondary clocks, with means for effecting synchronization therebetween comprising in combination, means in the secondary clock for blocking the advance of said clock periodically in accordance with the chronological condition of said clock, the blocking action of said blocking means being controlled solely by the secondary and becoming operative automatically each time the secondary makes a given extent of advance.

8. A synchronized clock system including a master clock and a secondary clock having a i an operatin means therein with circuits connectin t e same, and means in the master clock or'sending to an operatin means in the secondary clock normal and ast impulses, and means for effecting synchronization of the secondary clock and master clock a a comprising, in combination, means in the master clock for impressing upon a common circuit which always extends to and is electrically connected to the operating means of the secondary clock both the normal and fast impulses, means in-the secondary clock for blocking the said clock against advance in accordance with the chronological condition of said clock and independentl of electrical control from the master c ock and means controlled from the master clock for unblocking the secondary at a definite time as controlled by the master clock.

9. In a synchronized clock system having a master clock and a plurality of secondary clocks and circuits connecting theisame,

means inthe master clock for sending out normal and fast impulses to said secondary clocks, means for effecting synchronization between the master and secondary clocks, said second mentioned means comprising in combination mechanical blocking means in the secondary clock to obstruct their advance beyond a definite coincident time, said blocking means bein brought into opera tion automatically so ely by the secondary clock itself when it reaches a definite time, and means controlled b the master clock for removing said mec anical obstruction to permit the further advance of the secondary clocks under normal impulses sent from the master clock.

10. A synchronized clock system including a master clock and secondary clocks, with means for effecting synchronization therebetween, with means in the master clock for sending impulses for stepping the clocks ahead normally and for periodically rapidly stepping up the secondaries, in combination with means in the secondary clocks adapted to receive all normal and rapid stepping impulses so that periodically each secondary is tended to be driven to a fast chronological condition, means in the secondary clocks for periodically restraining the clocks against setting to a fast chronological condition, said means being normally positioned for blocking action by the secondary clock itself and means controlled by the master clock in accordance with its time condition and disposed in the secondary clocks for releasing the aforesaid restraint to permit the clocks to resume their normal advance.

11. In a synchronized clock system, in combination,'master clock mechanism for sending normal and rapid driving impulsesand a restoring impulse, secondary clock mechanisms, a single line circuit connecting said mechanisms whereby said normal and rapid impulses transmitted over the said line circuit cause all of said secondary clocks to travel toward a predetermined position,

means controlled solely and mechanically b y ,0 line circuit in which said elcctromagnet is included, master clock controlled means for periodically transmitting normal driving inipulses over said line circuit, master clock controlled means for periodically transmitting rapid driving impulses over the same said line circuit, means controlled only in accordance with the position of said time indicating means for suspending advancement of the latter, means responsive to a single restoring impulse for causing resumption of advancement of said time indicating mechanism by impulses transmitted over thevvsame said line circuit and master clock controlled means for causing the transmission of the last mentioned restoring im ulse.

13. In a system of t e class described, a line circuit, master clock mechanism for sending normal driving impulses over said line circuit and rapid driving impulses over the same line circuit, a secondaryv clock mechanism connected to receive all of its driving impulses over said line circuit, means controlled solely by the secondary clock mechanism for periodically preventing advancement of the secondary clock mechanism, and master clock controlled means for restoring the secondary clock mechanism to the control of the driving impulses received over the said line circuit.

14. A synchronizing clock system includ: ing a secondary clock with a common impulse driving magnet for actuating the clock both for normal timed impulses which normally advance the clock and for fast impulses which rapidly step the clock ahead, means for arresting the clock from further advance at a predetermined point in its cycle of operation, and an auxiliary electromagnetic device supplemental to the impulse magnet and disposed within the secondary clock for rendering ineffective the arresting means upon the receipt of a special impulse by the secondary clock, the aforesaid impulse magnet being energized for advancing the clock at times when said auxiliary electromagnetic device is not energized. 1

15. A synchronized clock system including a master clock and a secondary clock with a single impulse magnet disposed at the secondary clock -for advancing the clock both under the control of normal impulses and for rapidly steppin ahead the clock under the control of fast impulses which are received from the master clock and including'in combination, means brought into operation periodically by the secondary clock for arresting its advance, an auxiliary electromagnetic device supplemental to the impulse magnet for rendering said last mentioned 'means ineffective so as to permit further impulse advance of the clock by said single impulse magnet, and means at a remote master clock for sending a single controlling impulse at a said secondary clock whereby said impulse magnet maybe energized when said auxiliary electromagnetic device is de-energized.

16. A synchronized clock system including a master clock with transmitting means for sending out a lurality of timed impulses which are-in a timed notation with respect to,

ary clock with devices wlthin the clock adapt-' ed to receive all of the minute timed denominational impulses and all of the fractional minute timed denominational impulses, said secondary clock further having devices at and within it. for selectively determining whether various of the impulses are to be effective to drive the clock, said means being brought into action to make the impulses ineffective to drive the clock wholly mechanically and by the secondary clock itself and independently of any electrical control from the master clock, and means at and within the clock and always controlled by the impulse of longest interval irrespective of the chronological condition of the secondary clock for compelling synchronization of the secondary clock with respect to the master clock.

17. A synchronized clock system including a master clock with transmitting means for sending out a plurality of timed impulses which are in a timed notation with respect to the impulse w each other, oneset'being sent at intervals based on one denomination of time such as at minute intervals another set being sent at a different denomination of time such as at fractional minute intervals, and a third set being sent at another denomination of time such as at hourly intervals, 9. seconda clock with devices within the clock adapte to receive all of the impulses which are sent at minute intervals and all of the impulses which are sent at fractional minute intervals, said secondary clock havin devices at and within it for selectively determining whether various of the impulses are to be v effective to drive the clock, said devices being brought into action to make the impulses ineffective to drive the clock wholly mechanically and by the secondary clock itself and independently of any electrical control from the master clock, said last mentioned devices havingprovisions for causing thesecondary clock to always receive and be controlled by.

ich is of major denominational value; and meansat and wlthin the secondary clock and controlled byth'e aforesaid impulse which has the major time denominatlonal value for compelling synchronization of the secondary clock with respect to the master clock; 18. In a synchronized clock system, a secondary clock comprising in combination, an

impulse ma net and mechanism for advancing' the cloc whenever it. is to be advanced, locking means for suspending advance of the secondary clock whenever it reaches a predetermined chronological position, a release magnet for releasing said locking means whenever said release magnet is energized,

and means for energizing said impulse magnet without energizing said release magnet, and connections for energizing said release magnet to permit advancement of the secondary clock after looking has been eifected.

In testimony whereof I hereto ailix my signature.

' JAMES W. BRYCE. 

